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TXU to cut mercury at Comanche Peak station

Release Date: 08/03/2007
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

Power plant joins EPA national partnership for pollution reduction

(Dallas, Texas – August 3, 2007) TXU Power has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of mercury it generates at its Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station. The nuclear power plant has pledged to complete mercury reduction measures at its facility located near Glen Rose, Texas, as part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities program.

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) encourages public and private organizations to go beyond regulatory requirements by forming voluntary partnerships with EPA that reduce the use or release of 31 priority chemicals.  Priority chemicals are long-lasting substances that can build up and cause harm to humans and the environment.

The Comanche Peak plant was recognized by EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as a National Environmental Leader in 2005 and was accepted into EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track program in 2006. TXU has reduced hazardous waste generation at Comanche Peak from 90 tons annually in 1994 to less than one ton in 2006. As a member of NPEP, the power plant will continue reducing its environmental footprint by replacing instruments that contain mercury with mercury-free alternative products.

“This important partnership with the EPA really validates our ongoing pursuit of environmental excellence,” said Rafael Flores, Comanche Peak’s site vice president.  “As an active member in this community, we make environmental stewardship a top priority.  We take great pride in this accomplishment, and we applaud all of the environmental agencies for enacting these voluntary programs to encourage private industry to go beyond simply the rules of compliance.”

More than 100 partners across the nation have joined the NPEP program, which has set a goal to work with industry and the public to reduce the use or release of four million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011. Additional information on TXU’s environmental commitments is available at http://www.txucorp.com/responsibility/environment/.

To learn more about the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities, go to https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/minimize/partnership.htm.